32,163 U.S gun deaths in 2011

[RecycleMichael]

This is not just from homicides, but all gun deaths.

Only 4,435 Americans died in the Revolutionary war. 2,175 U.S. soldiers died in the war in Afghanistan and another 4,486 in Iraq.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/20/more-americans-have-died-from-domestic-gunfire-than-all-wars-in-u-s-history-is-that-true/

[Conan71]

Meanwhile:

Poor lifestyle choices and bad genetics killed more people than guns.

Heart disease: 597,689
Cancer: 574,743
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 138,080
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 129,476
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 120,859
Alzheimer's disease: 83,494
Diabetes: 69,071
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 50,476
Influenza and Pneumonia: 50,097
Intentional self-harm (suicide): 38,364

[RecycleMichael]

We are doing plenty to try to reduce deaths by cancer, diabetes, strokes, even the flu.

It seems reasonable to do something to try and reduce gun deaths as well.

[Conan71]

We are doing plenty to try to reduce deaths by cancer, diabetes, strokes, even the flu.

It seems reasonable to do something to try and reduce gun deaths as well.

In 2011, 32,163 people died from firearms.  19,766 were suicides, more than half.  Take away guns and I suspect the suicide rate would decline very little.  More people probably chose a gun simply because it's quick, "painless", and sure to get the job done if aimed in the correct place.

We need better mental health care.  What would you propose as a solution?

[DolfanBob]

We are doing plenty to try to reduce deaths by cancer, diabetes, strokes, even the flu.

It seems reasonable to do something to try and reduce gun deaths as well.

Plus 1 Michael.

[RecycleMichael]

We need better mental health care.  What would you propose as a solution?

I agree, but feel that needs it's own thread. This one is about gun deaths.

[TylerBGoode]

In 2011, 32,163 people died from firearms.  19,766 were suicides, more than half.  Take away guns and I suspect the suicide rate would decline very little.  More people probably chose a gun simply because it's quick, "painless", and sure to get the job done if aimed in the correct place.

We need better mental health care.  What would you propose as a solution?

I've read that suicide rates have gone down a pretty healthy percentage in Australia since their sweeping gun control laws were implemented.

[Conan71]

I've read that suicide rates have gone down a pretty healthy percentage in Australia since their sweeping gun control laws were implemented.

• Although most firearm-related deaths are suicides, firearm suicides represent a low
percentage of suicides overall.
• Firearm suicide rates began falling in the 1980s.
• A number of studies, from a range of different sources, have shown that:
o The 1996 firearms legislation did not have a significant impact on the pre-existing
downward trend in firearm suicides.
o Declines in firearm suicide have been accompanied by an increase in the use of
other suicide methods (especially hanging).
o Declines in non-firearm suicides began around the same time as the gun laws
were changed. The declines coincided with the introduction of the National
Suicide Prevention Strategy.
• A recent report backed by the Public Health Association of Australia concluded that the
1996 gun laws were "not a cost effective intervention" for suicide prevention.

http://www.ic-wish.org/WiSH%20Fact%20Sheet%20Trends%20in%20Australian%20Suicide.pdf

There is little doubt there are people whom if they had not had access to a firearm, would have not ended up committing suicide.  It can be an impulsive decision after an accumulation of life issues or a sudden traumatic event like the death of a loved one or break up of a marriage or other relationship.

That said, it's still a matter of free will when someone commits suicide.  No one forces someone to do and it is not the fault of a gun, necktie, belt, cyanide, razor blade, Brooklyn Bridge, or 20 story apartment balcony when someone does it.

[nathanm]

No one forces someone to do and it is not the fault of a gun, necktie, belt, cyanide, razor blade, Brooklyn Bridge, or 20 story apartment balcony when someone does it.

Neither is it the car's fault when it crashes, but we still require them be equipped with seat belts and airbags, because we know crashes will happen. Similarly, guns can be made more safe.

[Hoss]

Neither is it the car's fault when it crashes, but we still require them be equipped with seat belts and airbags, because we know crashes will happen. Similarly, guns can be made more safe.

Ultimately though, the best safety device for a gun isn't mechanical in nature.  It's the gun-owners finger.

Keep your finger off the bang switch people.  Until you need it.

[Conan71]

Neither is it the car's fault when it crashes,

Not always the case.  Blown tires or other mechanical failure can result in a crash through no fault of the driver.

[nathanm]

Not always the case.  Blown tires or other mechanical failure can result in a crash through no fault of the driver.

Yeah, and guns sometimes go off without the trigger being pulled.

[swake]

I've done a comparison that's pretty telling. All of the following countries are wealthy first world countries, they all share a language and have related similar cultures. They share music and movies and video games. If media created a violent culture, it should show in all of the countries. It doesn't. The rate and type of gun ownership drives gun deaths by murder and the rate of ownership drives it both in murder rate and in suicide rate. Murder by means other than guns does not go up with a lower gun ownership rate.

The overall murder rate in the US is three to five times the murder rate in these other countries. The US is at 4.8 murders per 100,000 people.  Second highest is Canada at 1.6. But the non gun murder rate while still on the high end of the spectrum is not dramatically higher. The US is at 1.2 non gun related murders, the other countries range from .6 to 1.2.

The overall gun death rate is even worse. The US is at 10.2 per 100,000 people. Next highest is New Zealand at 2.7. In the UK it's only .25. 

What IS different about these countries? Gun ownership rates and assault weapons bans. We own 88.8 guns per 100 people and have the weakest laws and most deaths. Canada is second at 30.8 guns (and third in murder rate to match). Canada and New Zealand have looser gun restrictions and own more guns than the other three counties. And they have the higher gun death rates to prove it, not as bad as ours, but double that of Australia, Ireland and the UK all three of which ban assault rifles. The UK bans guns outright.

United States:
Gun Death Rate: 10.2 per 100,000 people (3.6 Homicide, 6.3 Suicide and .3 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 4.8 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate: 88.8 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? No

Canada:
Gun Death Rate: 2.1 per 100,000 people (.5 Homicide, 1.8 Suicide and .3 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 1.6 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: .6 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate:  30.8 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? No but restricted and large magazines are banned


New Zealand:
Gun Death Rate: 2.7 per 100,000 people (.2 Homicide, 2.1 Suicide and .1 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: 0.7 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate: 22.6 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? No, but very restricted


Australia:
Gun Death Rate: 1.1 per 100,000 people (.1 Homicide, .8 Suicide and .2 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 1.0 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate: 15.0 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? Yes

Ireland:
Gun Death Rate: 1.0 per 100,000 people (.4 Homicide, .6 Suicide and .1 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: 0.8 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate: 8.6 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? Yes

United Kingdom:
Gun Death Rate: .25 per 100,000 people (.04 Homicide, .2 Suicide and .03 other)
Overall Murder Rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
Non Gun Murder Rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
Gun Ownership Rate: 6.2 guns per 100 people
Assault Weapons Banned? Yes

[nathanm]

Our murder rate looks more appropriate for a third world country. I wonder if that might have something to do with a lack of social services that the rest of the countries compared all have.

[Conan71]

Swake, assault weapons bans are largely irrelevant to overall murder rates and violence so it's not really a useful metric in your study in terms of reducing gun violence.  Consider, according to FBI stats, that 300 to 400 murders a year are attributed to a "rifle".  They do not delineate between a hunting rifle, a .22 plinker, or AR-15. In other words, a very small number of people end up being the victim of a gunshot from an "assault" weapon.

If "assault" weapons were not available, someone like Lanza could simply enter a building with a .45 auto and 10 seven-round clips and render just as much damage in the same amount of time.

In terms of how we rank in murder rates, we are also assuming that other countries are as good at compiling stats as we are, especially developing nations.

This is worth the read, it's a very balanced discussion on guns and gun violence.

Here are some other facts. The United States has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world — by far. And it has the highest rate of homicides among advanced countries. And yet, gun crime has been declining in the U.S. Firearm murders are down, as is overall gun violence –  even as gun ownership increases. Read our Analysis for more insight on what these statistics mean.

http://factcheck.org/2012/12/gun-rhetoric-vs-gun-facts/